Kick Off Team Must get better!!!

[JWsleep]

Our kick coverage has looked weak to me. I wonder sometimes if they ask Hall to kick is short...

I'm ok with Brown, and he earned his right to catch em with the Arizona game. But I admit that I'm still nervous with him back there.

[mheisig]

A quick look at NFL.com player stats would seem to indicate John Halls' leg is declining:

Kickoff Average

1997: 66.6
1998: 67.8
1999: 66.0
2000: 64.6
2001: 63.3
2002: 62.4
2003: 61.5
2004: 60.8
2005: 60.5

I'm not saying he sucks or anything, but there's a very obvious, steady decline in distance.

Taking a quick look at other kickers there doesn't seem to be a tremendous difference - average kickoff is in the 62 - 65 yard range.

[MTK]

I think someone already said this, it was rumored earlier in the year that Smith was having Novak kicking off high and short on purpose to allow the coverage team more time to get down the field. Perhaps this strategy has carried over to Hall?

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think someone already said this, it was rumored earlier in the year that Smith was having Novak kicking off high and short on purpose to allow the coverage team more time to get down the field. Perhaps this strategy has carried over to Hall?

Ah, now there's an explanation.

Guess in theory it would allow better coverage. Does anyone think it's working?

Seems like our opponents are always starting out with pretty good field position.

[Schneed10]

On returners, I think the argument is pretty much moot. Moss will be there on punt returns in this game. You can take that to the bank. Remember who Gibbs used to trot out there in the playoffs? Good old 28. He's going to bring out the big guns this game.

I'm not sure if he'd put Moss back there on kickoffs though. If he does, I'd prefer that. But Brown deserves a chance, because he has the speed to do damage. It's just that some games Brown seems very confident, and other times very scared. I think you just have to guage him on each day, if he is scared, take him out and let Betts do it. But Moss would be preferable. After all, it's the playoffs, win or go home. You put your best players out there, injuries be damned.

As for kickoffs, yesterday the Linc's field was in HORRIBLE shape. Hall was losing his footing, which is why that one kick went out of bounds. Akers was doing fine, but he's David Akers. He's the man. In Tampa I think Hall will get back to normal on better footing, and he'll get back to adequate kicking distance.

[amorentz]

Originally Posted by mheisig

A quick look at NFL.com player stats would seem to indicate John Halls' leg is declining:

Kickoff Average

1997: 66.6
1998: 67.8
1999: 66.0
2000: 64.6
2001: 63.3
2002: 62.4
2003: 61.5
2004: 60.8
2005: 60.5

I'm not saying he sucks or anything, but there's a very obvious, steady decline in distance.

Taking a quick look at other kickers there doesn't seem to be a tremendous difference - average kickoff is in the 62 - 65 yard range.

Hey, just curious where you got these stats from...Im a big fan of stats and thats definitely not the kind of thing you can find on espn!

[celts32]

Did I miss John Halls name on the injury report last week becasue his kickoffs were horrendous...and not just the one he kicked out of bounds. It just seemed like he labored every time just to reach the 10 or 15 yard line. The Eagles seemed to start outside the 30 every possesion. I know he had the injury earlier in the year but his kickoffs seemed better in previous weeks then they were on Sunday.

[RedskinPete]

Guys I think Betts should return Kick offs!!! Why??? Well I know you all think he saved us in the Card game but I believe that Betts returned one as well against who??? Yes against the Bay....Tampa Bay....these same Bucs!!! He sure looks good to me. Brown needs a lane big enought for a truck to go throught or he hits the ground! Pluse I hold my breath each time this guy gets the ball hoping this isn't the time he puts it on the ground for the other team. By the way he almost did this week looking back on the game!

[AnonEmouse]

Hall's KO's have been consistently bad over the last 2 years. Maybe the injury has affected his leg strength, but at least his accuracy is still there for FG's.

The answer is probably to get a punter in with a cannon for a leg and let him take KO's. If he isn't reliable enough as a punter, but can boom KO's and is on the market right now, I'd definitely consider carrying a 3rd kicker. In any case getting a quality punter in next year is a definite - I don't think Tupa will be around much longer, if he comes back at all.

As to returner, Brown hasn't shown me any tendencies to fumble in recent weeks. I suspect he worked on his catching and carrying while he was out of the league. What does bother me though is his average, and I can't be sure it's down to him. On a couple of kickoffs he had a guy coming free by the time he got to 20 yards and was hit almost every time around that point. I think they need to look at the blocking on returns and see if that can spring some holes.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by skindogger47

I don't like Danny Smith. I don't care what anyone says, the guy is a bad special teams coach. We have our damn starting defense on coverage and still give up good field position. Antonio Brown is NOT a Redskin, I don't give a **** if he did run that kick back. He nearly cost us the Bears game, and did cost us a Dallas game. He is stupid and he sucks. Get Thrash or Betts back there or Moss for Christs sake.

How can you say he is not a Redskin if he won the Arizona game for us?? Seriously our team was not doing anything offensively and without that, again , we would not be in the playoffs! Mistakes are terrible, but when u win games its better, give the kid a break. Only thing that worries me is if he fumbles but that is different story. Sure put in Betts, but AB is not THAT bad as everyone says he is. Betts had a fumble at the start of the second half in the first Giants game that ruined our chances even more if you all remember that too. But I like Trash on punts, I guess I can agree with that.

[CrazyCanuck]

I like Brown's explosiveness on kickoffs. I am petrified every time he touches the ball though.